­Omega-3 fatty acids prolong reproductive function

Background

More women are delaying childbirth and parenthood into their 30’s and 40’s, a trend that has been building for several decades with the increasing life spans, education level, and wealth in developed countries. However, after the age of 34, the chance of spontaneous conception exponentially declines while the rate of genetic anomalies leading to birth defects increases. Increasingly, women are utilizing assisted reproductive technology (ART), like in vitro fertilization, to overcome age-associated infertility.

Technology Overview

Dr. Mark Puder and colleagues at Boston Children’s and Massachusetts General Hospital have discovered a dietary approach to maintain fertility with age. By studying mice, the group showed that supplementing a normal diet with a precise formulation of omega-3 fatty acid, namely DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), increased oocyte quality and prolonged reproductive function into advanced age (at least 5 months beyond normal reproductive age). Furthermore, offspring of these mice had a higher rate of survival than offspring of mice fed a standard chow diet or a soy-based, high omega-6 diet. These results are parallel by a recent study of 100 women with an average age of 35 undergoing ART (ref. 2). The study found that the serum concentration of omega-3 is associated with a higher probability of pregnancy and live birth. These findings suggest that increasing intake of certain fatty acids may be an approach for improving fertility.

Benefits

• Safe, well tolerated and simple oral delivery as capsule or drink
• Potential to increase both the window of fertility for women and the health of their children

Applications

• Additional therapy during fertility treatment
• Prophylactic supplement for women who are delaying pregnancy